Dr. K. Shimabukuro

Dr. K. Shimabukuro

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Making Your Own Happiness- just add...?

In the words of Abraham Lincoln, "Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."

I read this today, and it made me stop and think. I totally agree with this quote. I am a firm believer that you can make your own happiness. That if you're not happy, it's completely up to you to change something- your job, your home, your geography, your relationship.
But I also wonder at what point, if you're doing all you can, you have to stop and re-evaluate what is obviously not working. How long do you give something? Friends of Dad set themselves a five year deadline to sell their home, their business, and live life on a sailboat (you can follow their great adventures here: http://ploddinginparadise.blogspot.com/).
No offense to Tammy or Chip, but five years seems like forever. If you're not looking for a move that big, maybe just a change of pace, how long do you give yourself?
The last six months have seemed really hard spiritually and emotionally. As I approached the one year anniversary of Mom being gone, I started to contemplate what I wanted my life to be. Everyone said to wait at least a year before making any big decisions. But I found, as the one year mark came up, that I allowed myself to start thinking.
I've been here eight years, and while I wouldn't trade it, it certainly wasn't of my choosing. So I began to think about what I wanted. What I want to choose.
  • To make the transition to teaching college (preferably community college, as they accept Masters degrees)
  • If I can't make the transition with the experience I have, then apply to doctorate programs and get myself the experience/piece of paper I need to teach college
  • Get published in scholarly journals
  • Continue to present at conferences
But it's been rough. The rejection. The stress. Wondering if I'm doing the right thing. Wondering if this is really what I want. Growing unhappiness. It seems as though I'm treading water. I think I'm doing everything I can, but without a support system, it's hard to know if I'm navigating the waters the best way I can.

So, universe? What words of advice do you have for me?

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